[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6252468,"mediaKeyId","3188261-9a09e522c122a5c8e94d29245aa98c6a","parentId",3188261,"title","Board reopens facilities debate over hand dryers after Mill Hall borough raises sewer complaints","audioSeconds",783,"startMs",4529000,"endMs",5312000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188261-9a09e522c122a5c8e94d29245aa98c6a&start=4529&end=5312","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188261-9a09e522c122a5c8e94d29245aa98c6a/thumbnail_4529000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6252468/Pennsylvania/Board-reopens-facilities-debate-over-hand-dryers-after-Mill-Hall-borough-raises-sewer-complaints","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252468-1400f63254ac79906e039d2f44d52bc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445281&Signature=dwoq41GvFq-CLjQDFUpLFe2ka867wurPfsJt7yk35c2iwtLQWUq5OE1~rEcuv-bHBw4pb8q2ZRJHevAdw9uabJq4Unb9N-L3a-ndjYP-WPTcWW~I-kkUE9oAKrf11pa4Ry5Gu4J3H9CSQXBsYuxsU9TCh0ZpGtI0Corhwv2i-PumD2D0GH~I9a~5lIzrIsEejy2d9TRCPQXhT3snBHzGJEgMpYst-zv3H76VH97Kcd7Hkg65P3xrwNHAqcgpp8HGxOGpYEMPLR4oXjDLKjfL06326GSi1TtA6ZhXSXucD5z1bRwSBTwQapyu270tbP~G8fDbXkyPKTV4mjDsVUjY3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-04T09:58:53.097Z","article","Board members discussed a recurring sewer‑line problem tied to paper product and wipe disposal at the Ben High School facility during the Keystone Central School District work session on May 1, and some members proposed installing electric hand dryers as a corrective step; others urged investigation before spending district funds.

Background and complaint: Board member Jeff May and others said Mill Hall borough representatives have reported repeated sewer blockages that borough staff associate with paper towels, “handy wipes” and grease flushed into the district’s lines. May said borough officials requested solutions and that facilities staff proposed a fix likely to resolve the problem at relatively low cost. “We had 3 representatives from Mill Hall here asking for support for their community pool,” May said, and he described the borough’s cooperation and use of district fields.

Arguments for hand dryers: Proponents said switching to hand dryers would eliminate a source of paper waste and reduce the material entering sewer lines. May argued hand dryers would save on paper‑towel purchases and reduce landfill waste.

Arguments for investigation and caution: Several board members, including Elizabeth, opposed immediate installation without determining why the problem began. She said borough staff told her the blockages had started about five years ago and urged steps to identify what changed before committing district funds. Another board member cited academic and public‑health sources claiming hand dryers can spread bacteria; that member offered to provide literature from institutions including the Cleveland Clinic and CDC and requested copies for the record.

Facilities committee and next steps: The facilities committee had previously discussed the matter and put it back before the full board for consideration; the board did not approve an installation at the work session. Members asked facilities staff and borough representatives to pursue camera inspection of the district sewer lines and to return with a technical assessment and cost estimate. The item remains under discussion and no purchasing action was authorized during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 01, 2025 - Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Board members debated replacing paper towel dispensers with electric hand dryers at Ben High School after Mill Hall borough officials reported recurring sewer clogs; the facilities committee recommended further investigation rather than immediate installation.","taxTitle","Keystone Central SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",67877,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6252473,"Keystone Central finance report shows one‑time ESSER spending and rising cyber‑charter costs",645,2117000,2762000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188261-9a09e522c122a5c8e94d29245aa98c6a&start=2117&end=2762","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188261-9a09e522c122a5c8e94d29245aa98c6a/thumbnail_2117000.jpg","/articles/6252473/Pennsylvania/Keystone-Central-finance-report-shows-onetime-ESSER-spending-and-rising-cybercharter-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252473-1d050457b5a73acaa8768520f9a7fd1c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445281&Signature=GjA4WcmxkJ6omAWCayH76x7KUieXK7rfMGgzGHCgyHijIPbc2pKX8Gacn6GpVZYSsJr8L43ZKttZNInYNw~91n05nG91rfgtt0L0rnCjwuYWuqFWPkUNiTu8hHa4OxjeU714pnekE5utilHjks6NDQlMrfcnXqljMQ6pr2ZRUCXSVqdIMIDAmEi61-tkdDNizfZLWWhahYM4b4akNwKCsYAFzjtVe3I6ihcxevpoQsLZl2sB6nd-afWuEuCn3tPwgvjfC7rhkh5vZoH-bJEf3kc1v8rDMOFtOKYJkiNXVS7NA5K7IxDrNuWO62LKCtRwtCHSbtzykoc3xCzZbJxcNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Business‑office staff presented new forecast‑style financial reports at the Keystone Central board work session on May 1 and outlined revenue timing issues tied to federal ESSER funds alongside growing cyber‑charter expenditures.

Joni (district finance staff) said the new reports use a format adopted by the vendor (Frontline/Forecast5) and present year‑to‑date comparisons. As of March 2025, she reported roughly $34.6 million in local revenue and said the district’s revenue is up about 4.4% compared with the prior year. “This is actually March’s information,” Joni said, noting the reports will be updated more frequently.

ESSER timing and next year’s federal revenue: Joni explained that federal ESSER funds skewed prior years’ federal revenue figures and that ESSER spending is winding down. She said the district budgeted ESSER spending in 2024–25 and that federal revenue will likely drop “dramatically” in 2026 to about $2 million, changing the revenue profile for that fiscal year.

Expenses and the cyber‑charter driver: The report showed expenses growing faster than revenue. Joni told the board salaries and benefits were about 64% spent year‑to‑date and that the purchase‑services bucket was at 87% in March because cyber‑charter tuition costs have exceeded budgeted amounts by roughly $1 million to $2 million in recent years. She summarized that revenues were up 4.4% while expenses rose about 7.7%, producing a projected deficit for the 2025–26 budget year.

Board discussion and follow‑up: Board members asked for more projections and comparative scenarios. Joni said she will present deeper dives, including budgeted versus projected analyses, at the finance committee. The board also discussed the new presentation format and the need to clarify how percentages (local/state/federal shares) are shown so they are not misread as shares of the total operating budget.

Procedural items linked to finance: During the meeting the board moved to appoint Joni as board treasurer effective July 1, 2025, for one year as permitted under Section 404 of the Pennsylvania School Code; that administrative appointment was presented as the board recommendation during the session.","District finance staff presented new financial report visuals showing March 2025 revenue and expense snapshots, noted ESSER timing that will reduce federal revenue in 2026, and flagged cyber charter costs that are driving expense increases above revenue growth.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6252478,"Keystone Central outlines expanded virtual academy, highlights new dual‑enrollment option",1055,199000,1254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3188261-9a09e522c122a5c8e94d29245aa98c6a&start=199&end=1254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3188261-9a09e522c122a5c8e94d29245aa98c6a/thumbnail_199000.jpg","/articles/6252478/Pennsylvania/Keystone-Central-outlines-expanded-virtual-academy-highlights-new-dualenrollment-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6252478-9b64805f87b51c0705c0b90b1b49fe45/orig.mp4?Expires=1770445282&Signature=ePLZXp4gWFWPtTIHj4cutrJ-fwAE-1eFptcSDKSuOYuiJ~i0UgWHw-5dyaZBY4cejY9N9j81sghIJYhx53ATCpMf5xTZwdlAR1wzkG5kjKgCxiwTshu~HI8K0Q60D-DMMLmOzWIRE-LFbDEZzXlY0DD0YS-ZemEkZ~AVh86DML~0lSQOLdVck4SAInru6k1xTmtytm7F6GDMTtG5w7FZmV0TyRVj4NamMNBjqvIx1GV-5bUSXgPoGTNb-hkFgHtRsN12twXJ33bK1qCZNy2-PCeVZpeSqV0wuoo4G43FCj0SOrHdREsN~~UEm4B0wL9sC~CrVdNiSD2aQyuNg-~F5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mister Peters, speaking at the Keystone Central School District board work session on May 1, introduced the district’s Virtual Academy and described plans to expand course access and launch a dual‑enrollment option for the 2025–26 school year.

Peters said the academy uses multiple online platforms through partners he named as the Capital Area Online Learning Association (CAOLA, referred to in the meeting as Kayola) and Central Intermediate Unit 10. “Take an opportunity to talk to the board this evening a little bit about our virtual academy here in Keystone Central School District,” Peters said, describing the presentation materials and video links the district will share with families and staff.

Why it matters: district leaders said the academy gives students flexible scheduling, supports students with health or social‑emotional needs, and lets full‑time or hybrid students remain connected to local extracurriculars, counseling and special education services. Peters said the district wanted to attract students who had left for other cyber programs and to make in‑district online offerings competitive.

Board context and details: Peters said the online consortium materials show broad participation across Pennsylvania; he described access to “more than 400 courses” and a range of STEM, language and career electives that the district cannot offer in every in‑person setting. He said the district’s Virtual Academy can be full‑time online at home, full‑time in an on‑site online classroom, or hybrid with a mix of in‑person and online coursework; students may combine Career and Technical Center (CTC) blocks with online classes. Peters also said the district will provide mentors, school counselors, special education services and technology support to academy students.

New dual‑enrollment pathway: Peters said a new dual‑enrollment feature available through the online platforms (via Edison Learning as one vendor) will expand access to college‑level courses from regionally accredited institutions. “It makes it easier for students to access college level courses regardless of their geographical location,” he said, and added that the district expects the option to let students earn college credit while in high school and reduce postsecondary costs.

Cost comparisons and enrollment goal: Peters described typical costs charged when students enroll in outside cyber programs: about $300 per course, roughly $2,400 for eight credits a year for a regular education student, about $15,000 for a student sent to an outside cyber program, and roughly $30,000 for a student with an IEP placed outside the district. Peters framed those figures when explaining the district’s aim to recruit students back into KCSD offerings.

Board questions and next steps: Board members asked about hybrid models and potential partnerships with other districts for shared CTC access; Peters said other districts have inquired about partnering with KCSD CTC programs and that such conversations are ongoing. The presentation materials and video links will be posted on the district website and used in family outreach and staff training ahead of the coming school year.

No formal vote or policy change was taken during the work session; the presentation concluded with the board inviting follow‑up questions and discussion at later meetings.","Keystone Central School District presented its K–12 Virtual Academy and described partnerships with CAOLA/Kayola, course breadth and a new dual‑enrollment pathway; administrators emphasized flexibility, counselor access and a goal to bring students back from outside cyber programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reopens facilities debate over hand dryers after Mill Hall borough raises sewer complaints

Keystone Central finance report shows one‑time ESSER spending and rising cyber‑charter costs

Keystone Central outlines expanded virtual academy, highlights new dual‑enrollment option